Saving lives and changing lives through early identification, intervention and prevention

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We are delighted that the DASH training is university accredited by the University of Brighton. It has received the ‘REQ’ kite mark – recognising educational quality – in 2014 and was re-accredited in September 2016. If you were trained prior to 2014 you will need to undergo refresher training. Refresher training should be undertaken every six months ideally.

The DASH is a lifeline for many victims. The questions and answers are important, so to is the action that you take. Please ensure you are trained and accredited to use the DASH Risk Model.

College of Policing Review of Part 1 of the DASH Risk Identification Checklist

On 29th April 2016, Laura attended a College of Policing event held in Cardiff regarding a review of the DASH Risk Identification, Assessment and Management Model, as a member of the Steering Group.

This risk-led policing review of the DASH led by Dr Amanda Robinson demonstrates the increased focus and importance that police place on keeping domestic abuse victims and their families safe.

Laura is pleased that the review highlighted widespread support across police and partner agencies for the DASH, recognising the importance of the DASH and a risk led response. Louisa Rolfe, NPCC lead for domestic abuse, highlighted the importance of building on that progress. A consistent, appropriate use of the DASH was also recognised as being vital in identifying and mitigating risk to a victim, as well as a common language of risk amongst police and partner agencies.

Recommendations include:

Streamlining Part 1 – the risk identification or screening stage – for front line officers thereby allowing frontline police staff to use it more consistently when attending domestic violence calls.

Half of the questions in the DASH are about coercive control and a further emphasis will be placed on coercive control in the tool and the training. Having spearheaded the successful DV Law Reform Campaign to criminalise coercive control, ensuring those using the model understand coercive control, risk and the link to lethality is vital. Just last week, in a landmark case for the UK, a 28 month prison sentence was given under this new offence of coercive control: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/mum-brainwashed-brute-boyfriend-who-8007865

Consistent training and implementation was also recognised as being important. Laura continues to highlight how imperative this is to the success of the model (hence why the DASH training is university accredited and this is currently going through renewal) along with the issue of leadership, police culture and accountability – the DASH is one part of the response – and the HMIC 2014 report also highlighted that these critical issues need to be addressed in order to improve the police response to domestic abuse as a whole.

Again, this clearly highlights a leadership, culture and accountability issue. This must be addressed if victims are to be taken seriously, for the DASH (or any) risk model to work, and for victims to be kept safe.

The College are focusing on the risk identification and screening process for front line officer. The full DASH Risk Assessment and Management Model will remain the same. Please continue to use the DASH Risk Model. Future updates will be included here.